Aeroplane-stabilizer.



S. S. BENSON..

AEROPLANE STABILIZER.

APPLlCATlON FILED lULY12, 1917.

1,293,312. Patented Feb. 4,1919.

QH WJY Ali'fiemsaa Inventor by I I 1 Attorneys SHERMAN S. BENSON, 0FYORK, NEBRASKA. AEROPLANE-STABILIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

Application filed July 12, 1917. Serial No. 180,184.

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHERMAN S. BENSON, a citizen of the United States,residing York, in the county of York and State of Nebraska, haveinvented a new and useful Aeroplane-Stabilizer, of which the followingis a specification.

The present invention relates to an aeroplane stabilizer, and aims toprovide novel and improved means for automatically maintaining theequilibrium of the aircraft in place, the device being designedespecially for use with the aerial bomb dropper disclosed in myco-pending application, Serial N 0. 178,991, filed July 6, 1917,although the device can be used in aeroplanes generally.

The invention has for its object provision of a novel mechanismconnecting the planes or wings of the aeroplane, whereby when one planeor wing is subjected to abnormal air pressure, either from below orabove, the planes or Wings will 'be tilted'to compensate for suchdifference in pressure thereag'ainst whereby to maintain the equilibriumof the aircraft.

The device is also so constructed that the planes or wings can yield andmove toward a plane parallel with the axis of the aeroplane as the speedthereof is increased, whereby the inclination of the planes will beinversely proportional to the speed of the machine, in order to sustainthe machine in a practically horizontal line of flight, even though thespeed may vary.

It is also the object of the invention to provide a mechanism of thenature indica'ted which is comparatively simple in construction andpractical and eflicaceous in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the inventionherein disclosed canbe made within the scope of what is claimed, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an aeroplane, embodying the improvedmechanism. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

precise embodiment of the Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the respectivelines 33 and 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The mechanism is shown applied to an aerial bomb dropper, such asdisclosed in said application, but it is to be understood that it can beused upon various airships for automatically maintaining theequilibrium. The aeroplane illustrated embodies the shell or body 1having the propeller 2, compound steering rudder 3, elevating planes 4,bomb dropping-means 5, and the sustaining planes or wings 6 at theopposite sides of the monoplane type. The invention relates to themechanism for automatically tilting the planes or Wings 6.

In carrying out the invention, the planes 6 are suitably pivoted, as at7, adjacent to their forward edges to the body 1, so that the planes canbe swung upwardly and downwardly 0r warped. Shanks 8 are attached to theplanes 6 at their adjacent ends and rear edges and project toward oneanother through openings in the body 1, said shanks being attached toarcuate racks 9 movable vertically within the body and meshing. with apinion 10 mounted on a shaft 11 journaled in floating bearings 12normally supported by the frame 13 within the body. Guide wheels 14 arecarried by the frame between the racks and serve to guide the racks forreciprocatory one rack also having arms 15 extending across the otherrack and having rollers 16 bearing against the back of the lastmentioned rack, whereby to hold the racks in engagement with the rollers14 and pinion 10. The racks thus are guided for reciprocatory movementvertically, and the pinion 10 causes the racks to reciprocate inopposite directions, whereby when the rear edge of one plane 6 is raisedor depressed, the rear edge of the other plane will be moved in theopposite direction.

Coiled wire expansion springs 17 or other suitable springs are disposedbetween the floating bearings 12 and the frame 13, to

normally depress said bearings and shaft 11,

but enabling said bearings and shaft to yield upwardly. This permits thepinion 10 and both racks 9 to yield upwardly with .the rear edges of thesustaining planes 6 due to increased pressure against the under surfacesof the planes.

In order to maintain the planes 6 in normal relative position, the shaft11 has an movement,

arm 19 extending at an angle and connected by a spring 19 with the frame1 thereby tending to hold the pinion 11) in normal position with theracks J and planes (3 in corresponding position.

In operation. when the aeroplane is in tlight. should a gust of windstrike one sustaining plane 0 and tend to raise it and. therefore. tiltthe lllllt'lllllt. said plane will he swung upwardly and thereby raisethe corresponding liltli 5. and through the pinion 10 lower the otherrack f This, will depress the opposite sustaining plane or wing. whiehin presenting a greater angle of incidence. will resist the sidewisetilting of the machine and maintain its lateral halanee. Should the-gustof wind tend to lower one plane. said plane will he swung downwardly.therehy. through the operative eonneetion between the planes. swingingthe other plane upwardly to resist the lateral tilting of the maehine.The sustaining planes or wings will. therefore. tilt or adjustthemselves to any ditt'erenees in pres.- sure thereagaiust. to maintainthe lateral halanee. the spring 19 tending to hold the planes in normalposition. and returning said planes to said position when the pressurethereagainst is equalized. As the speed of the aeroplane increases. toinerease the pressure against the under surfaces of the planes (3. saidplanes can yield up 'ardly. due to the fact that the racks 9. pinion l0,shaft 11. and bearings 12 can all yield vertieally as a unit. Thesprings 17 and 19 permit sueh upward movement of the planes, and serveto lower said planes as the speed is decreased. This serves to sustainthe, aeroplane in a practically horizontal line of flight. and even whenthe planes yield up wardly. the operative connection therebetween isoperable for maintaining the equilihrium. The operation of the mechanismis entirely automatic. requiring no manual attention. so that the devicecan be employed in an aerial bomb dropper or other autolnatie aerialmachine, as well as manually -:'ontrolled ones.

Having thus described the inventiomwhatis claimed as new is:

An aeroplane having opposite pivoted planes swingahle upwardly anddownwardly. racks connected to said planes, a. pinion meshing with saidracks so that the planes swing in opposite directions. a floating lwiring for said pinion, spring means for said hearing to yieldahly lowerthe rear portions ot the planes. and spring means eonneeted to thepinion tending to hold it in normal position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own. I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SHERMAN S. BENSON.

\Yitnesses IvY E. SIMPSON, PIIILOMENA A. ROCKELLI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of ratentl. Washington, D. 0.

